Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.12.19

Jean Noel Thorel is a French entrepreneur, biologist, and professional poker player. He is currently ranked #1 on the France All-Time Money List, holding a significant lead over all other French players in history. Outside of poker, he is the founder of NAOS, the global skincare conglomerate that owns major brands like Bioderma and Institut Esthederm.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With over $21,794,639 in total live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, Thorel is one of the most successful high stakes players in the world, currently ranking 57th on the Global All-Time Money List.

As of December 18, 2025, he is currently playing the final table of the $25,000 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise Super Main Event. He enters the final day as the massive chip leader (holding 142 big blinds), competing for a $10,000,000 top prize.

His largest recorded tournament scores to date include:

$2,875,000 – 2nd place in the $100,000 Triton Main Event at Triton Jeju in March 2024.
$2,830,000 – 2nd place in the $125,000 Triton Main Event at Triton London in August 2023.
$2,137,100 – 2nd place in the $250,000 PCA Super High Roller in January 2023.
$1,390,000 – 4th place in the $200,000 Triton Invitational in Monte Carlo in October 2023.

Jean Noel Thorel Poker — Jean Noel Thorel – Photo credit Triton Poker

Biography & Poker Background

Born in 1947, Thorel is a 78-year-old pharmacist-biologist who turned a small invention into a global skincare empire. While he is often called an “amateur” due to his primary wealth coming from NAOS, he has been a consistent professional-level competitor on the live circuit since 2008.

He is a fixture at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series and the European Poker Tour (EPT) . In 2018, he solidified his legacy by donating all of his NAOS assets to a shareholder foundation dedicated to philanthropy and skin health research.

Play Style & Strategy

Thorel is famous for a fearless and aggressive style that frequently puts world class professionals in difficult spots.

Elite Pressure: His strategy revolves around utilizing a large stack to apply maximum pressure, often ignoring standard ICM (Independent Chip Model) constraints that might limit other players.
Unpredictability: He is noted for his ability to play a wide range of hands, making it difficult for opponents to put him on a specific range.
Mental Stamina: His current 2025 performance at WSOP Paradise, where he dominated the Day 2B field and entered the final table with nearly 40% of the chips in play, demonstrates elite-level endurance and focus.

Recent Attendances